Renowned entrepreneur Elon Musk took the stage as the star guest at the annual Atreju conference organized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party. Musk's presence at the event attracted a diverse crowd, as he discussed Italy's low birth rate and the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

Italy has been grappling with one of the lowest birth rates in the world, prompting Musk to highlight the importance of increasing the population to preserve the country's culture. He urged the audience to "make more Italians" in an effort to address this demographic challenge. Notably, this aligns with the cultural preservation goals of the Meloni government, who personally invited Musk to speak at the event.

During the conference, no mention was made of Musk's own recent children born via surrogacy, despite Meloni's vocal opposition to surrogacy, which remains criminalized in Italy. The issue of surrogacy has been a subject of contention within the country.

Known for his distinct style, Musk made an appearance in what some described as the "least stylish" shoes compared to the predominantly Italian crowd. Notably, the event had previously seen the attendance of Steve Bannon, former top adviser to Donald Trump, in 2018.

Prime Minister Meloni, an avid fan of fantasy novels, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," sat in the front row, capturing moments of Musk's speech through her camera. Meloni's appreciation for "Lord of the Rings" aligns with the sentiment among Italy's post-Fascist far-right parties. She believes that the famous book series represents conservative values and has previously expressed her admiration for Tolkien's work.

In addition to Musk, the conference featured other prominent speakers, including Spanish populist party Vox member Santiago Abascal and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Musk, during his interview with an Italian journalist, expressed concerns about what he called the "woke mind virus," citing its impact on the United States and its potential spread to Italy. He described it as "evil."

When asked about international companies investing in Italy, Musk emphasized the challenges posed by Italy's low birth rate. The scarcity of young workers and the declining population size have made it challenging for such investments to thrive. Musk also touched on the subject of immigration, advocating for legal immigration if the immigrants contribute positively to society and are hardworking individuals.

Irregular immigration remains a prominent political issue in Italy, with over 153,000 people having arrived by sea so far this year. Musk's question about the lack of filters in illegal immigration received applause from the crowd.

The technopreneur also delved into the topic of artificial intelligence, asserting that it represents the most significant turning point since the existence of Homo sapiens. While acknowledging its potential benefits, Musk also drew attention to the risks AI poses as an existential threat. He likened AI to a double-edged sword, cautioning against unforeseen consequences. Musk highlighted the need for careful consideration and responsible handling of this emergent technology.

The Atreju conference, named after a character from the movie "The NeverEnding Story," concluded with Musk's thought-provoking insights on the birth rate, artificial intelligence, and the challenges facing Italy. As the country looks ahead to shape its future, the conference and Musk's contributions have sparked discussions on cultural preservation, immigration, and the impact of advanced technologies.

Overall, the conference served as a platform to address pressing issues and explore innovative ideas, with Musk's presence adding to the event's significance and attracting attention from around the world.